Electromagnetically operating refrigeration compressor



I July 11, 1950. A. B. BORNSTEIN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATING REFRIGERATION COMPRESSOR Filed May 24, 1949 Arraeua Patented July 11, 1950 "UNITED 1 o- FICE ELECTROMAGNETICALIIY OPERATING REFRIGERATION. COMPRESSOR Alfred B. Bornstein, Silver spring, Md. Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,102

This invention relates to a compressor pump and more particularly to an electromagnetically operated reciprocating pump.

It is the object of the present invention to pro vide a compact, sturdy and reliable compressor pump which is particularly adapted to be used as a compressor in refrigerant systems.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved solenoid operated reciprocating compressor pump in which the compression chamber is efiectively sealed against leakage in consequence of the elimination of any moving parts between the exterior and interior thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compressor for refrigerant gases of all types, which is simple in construction, quiet in operation, and which is operative for long periods of time without need for special attention or maintenance. When servicing is required, disassembly, replacement of parts and re-assem bly can be performed easily and quickly.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of providing a compressor embodying a cylinder containing a freely floating piston therein which is actuated by a pair of alternately energized solenoids to impart reciprocating movements to the piston. While such types of compressors have been known hereto-fore, none of these has proven practical commercially in view of the mechanical difficulties incidental to the stopping of the travel of the piston in its opposite directions and the complex valving arrangements used in such units. The compressor in accordance with the present invention obviates all the previous difficulties by the utilization of valve members formed of rubber-like material which are provided with self-sealing openings functioning as suction and exhaust ports for the compressor which are operated automatically by the pressure conditions engendered by the movements of the piston within the cylinder. At the same time, the valve members act as buffers for the piston in its to-and-fro movements within the cylinder.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the compressor pump in accordance with the present invention, with certain parts in elevation, taken along-line l--I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

n Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of one manner of.,alternately energizing the solenoids of the compressor. 1

In Fig. 1 is shown a compressor embodying a cylinder l of diamagneti-c material, tor example,

Claims. (Cl. 230- 55) brass "or copper, into which is closely fitted a cy lindrical' piston 2 for -"reciprocating movement therewithin; The piston 2' is preferably formed of soft iron, for example, of iron-nickel alloy or Armco iron, having characteristicsof low hysteresis loss and low remanence characteristics." A pair of solenoids II and H surround the cylinder [on opposite sides of the transverse median line thereof, which solenoids are surrounded by an iron sleeve l2 for concentrating the flux paths of the magnetic fields produced by the coils into the field of operation of the piston Z. The flux paths are also aided by the iron closures l4 and M which are threaded onto the ex--'; ternally threaded ends 3 of the sleeve l. I

The instant invention is directed to the i mprovement ,of the general assembly described above and known heretofore, in order to make a workable and practical compressor by the util ization of an improved valving arrangementtherefor, which remains operative over a lo period of time andrequires minimum mainte nance care. 1

These objectives are obtained in the compressor in accordance with the present invention the insertion of a block of rubber-like mat al l3 and I3 into each end of the cylinder are fitted into 'thebase of-the closing and Id, respectively, between the ends of such rings and the ends of cylinder l. Threaded tubular extensions l5 audit project from the, base of the closure [4 for attachment thereto of inlet pipe ll and exhaustpipe l8, respectively. Similar connections on the opposite end of the, compressor for the inlet pipe I1 and exhaust pipe l8 are provided by threaded extensions [5" and [5, respectively. The blocks of rubber-like material I3 and I3 are provided with cylindrical projections which ext end'into the tubular exten sions 15,15, {6' and It. 'The projection extending into the pipe 15 is'flared at 2B and is, slit at 19 for the remainder of the thickness of the rubber block so that the same acts as a suction passage for .the refrigerant gas as the piston moves to the right. v The same arrange.-

ment is provided at the opposite end of the compressor by the flared opening '20 and th lit. l9' which cooperates with the inlet conduit I! .i The rubber projectionwhich fits into the tubular x.- tension I6 is slit at the extension and flares o twardlyat 22 adjacent tov the compression chamber. The samecon'struction characterizes th opposite end 'of the compressor by the provisio of the slit 2i and flared opening 22' which I connected to the outlet conduit I8. Therefor passages 222l' and 222l.' act asoutlet passages when-the piston-2 moves towards these,- re spectively, while in the reverse movement they are automatically closed.

The rubber blocks l3 and I3 are mounted within the head l4l 4', respectively, by the bolts 23, 23' imbedded in the blocks, which protrude to the exterior or the cylinder heads and are retainedii'i plate by nuts 24, 24, respectively;

The blocks I3 and I3 of rubber-like material, function not only to provide automatically operating suction and outlet check valv es for,

the compressor, but in addition s buffers for the piston 2 in its to-and-fro movements. The blocks of rubber-like material 3113' ifiay-bi made of any synthetic rubber-like material and neoprane compounds have tee-stories ideally suited for this purpose since this material pos= sesses the desired physical and chemical characteristicssuch astensile strength, resilience, elasticity andabrasionresistance and its prop titti s a e vi t a u c d .br niim d. 5 posure to oils; chemicals, heat, freezing, sunlight, ozone and natural aging. Neoprene isa com mercial trade marl; for synthetic plastic nrarketed'by E I duPont de Neinours & 110;,

his identified commercial-lyas a chloroe adien re r i r answer? ie a y e p wh erebe e i ia of er r ne- .Q h Sy t et b e e s h e irri generally the same physical and chemical properties evidenced neoprene could be se as' a linths.eem i r, iiisfilbsd hreiit Many types of synthetic rubber-like products are miable ,p mme p ly .rh h; n P h r' Pra as refi el g by n r n liene; e pon eis of butadienes with ap a li side, t i fiblyalrki- E11 2. ly lfi strp bu a l nv arides a. ,Fqr u the t mo er ui able elasto ners'which bers, dimethylbutadiene rubbers, isooreiie' rubsra hal ar a etb ii a x m fi 'r acn ferrine when; or ,i pta a d 9 ti fipnett ru er. aw its other ab t r merization p'rocesssbf alltypes o'r'oat iai and syn tic' rsinsrEfrence. may be had to a t "atis'e on synthetic rubber-like product's, desig ated easements prdduct's, in the text 731 emeticinters, A, Treatise on Synthetic by F. Marchio'niia (1946).

- 3 is shows on wa of elotiioeny titergra t the solenoid coils u an which may at j to t; a rotary switchingar' ifient'intoo ii i a rotary s itch at which may be oberatd by a igloc'k motor to alternately complete" tj arena to the respective tons through the j, l t oialtisate y apposed contacts'tl an 32 one a source of direct current 'eiiergy'st which ifia' to battery. one ends: the batter be, grotaaeaot is the case with one the of each of the'solenoid boils. other "Sys em for alternately energizing the em t on a to iised in the attainment or tl'i ihst'ant invention.

wine I have assented my invention as embodied in a specific ions and as operating in speci c manner for purposes or iuustiation, it should be understood that I do not limit my inveritioh thereto, sihce'tarioiis modifications will uggest themse ves those skilled, in the art without departing the spirit of my inventijoii the scope of which is "set forth in the an flexed claims.

I claim: A i re b fp m 't ifirfi of dianiagnetic a terior disposed than v onthe opposite sides of a transverse median;

" material at each end of said cylinder having an inlet and an outlet opening therein which opensel-f clo'sing and are operable solely by a able pressure conditions produced by the t6=andfr6 inoi/inents of said piston within said cylinden eachvalve member in addition acting as a resilient buffer for said piston as it strikes against the opposite ends of said cylinder in its reciprocating movements.

2; In a solenoid operated reciprocating cornpresto: pump having a straight chamber with a floating piston reciprocable therein, a valv assembly therefore comprising a block of rubber like n'iaterial at each end serving as a resilient snubber for said pist on, and each block having two slits extending therethrough, on of said slitsbeing tapered on its external end towards the interior of the block adapted to function as an inlet port, and the other slit being tapered on its internal end adjacent 'to the pump chain";- ber tdwards the iriteriorof the block and adaptedto function; as an exhaust port. n

A compressor pump as set forth in claim 2 wherein said blocks of rubber like material are formed of'a chlorobutadiene polymer;

4. A refrigerator compressor pump compris: mg a cylinder of diamag netic material disposed symmetrically on the opposite sides of a trans* verse median, a pair of solenoid coils surround-:-

ing said cylinder on the opposite sides of said" transverse median and adapted to be energized alternately, a piston of magnetic material reciprocable within said cylinder by the alternate energization of said solenoid coils, a closure for said cylinder at each end thereof having a threaded extension for an inlet pipe and another threaded extension for an outlet pipe, a valve member of rubber-like material connected to each closure and provided with projections extending' i ntio said extensions, said pro jections having slits therein extending through said valve member to said cylinder, which slits are selfclosing and are operable solely by the variable pressure conditions produced by the to-andfro movements of said piston within said cylinder, each; valve member in addition acting as a resilient buffer for said piston as it strikes against the opposite ends of said cylinder. 7,

5 A refrigerator compressor pump asset forth in claim i wherein each valve member is formed of a synthetic rubber-like materialwith the slit at; the inlet projection being tapered towards the interior of the valve member while the other. slit is tapered from the opposite end of the valve member towards the interior of the valve member.

ALFRED B. BORNSTElIN.

REFERENCES error) The following references are of record the file of this patent:

ufirrnn STATES PATENTS 

